What You Need Before You Start

The Lenovo M710s has room for a second drive, but you need the right hardware and a few minutes to install it safely. Before you open the case, gather a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive or SSD, a SATA data cable (if one isn't already spare inside your case), and a SATA power cable connector. The M710s comes with at least one of each already connected to your main drive, so check inside first — you may already have spare cables waiting.

You'll also need a Phillips head screwdriver and a static wrist strap or mat. The wrist strap prevents static electricity from damaging components when you touch the inside of the case. If you don't have one, touch the metal frame of the case before handling any parts to ground yourself.

Shut down your computer completely and unplug the power cable from the back. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button once to discharge any remaining power. This step is not optional — it protects both you and the hardware.

Key Takeaways

  • The Lenovo M710s has a second drive bay on the right side of the case, accessible after removing the side panel with two screws.
  • You need a 3.5-inch SATA drive, a SATA data cable, and a SATA power cable — check inside your case first, as spare cables are often already there.
  • The new drive slides into the bay horizontally and screws down on both sides before you connect any cables.
  • After installation, your computer will recognize the new drive automatically, but you may need to initialize it in Disk Management before you can use it.

Opening the Case and Locating the Drive Bay

The M710s case has two screws on the right side panel — one near the top and one near the bottom. Remove both screws and slide the panel toward the back of the case, then lift it off. Set it somewhere safe where it won't get scratched.

Look inside and you'll see the main drive mounted on the left side. The second drive bay is directly to the right of it, a rectangular metal cage with four screw holes. This is where your new drive will go. If you see cables already plugged into this bay, your previous owner may have had a second drive — unplug those cables and set them aside.

Before you touch anything inside, touch the metal frame of the case with your bare hand to ground yourself. This removes static charge that could damage the new drive or other components.

Installing the New Drive Into the Bay

Hold your new drive so the circuit board faces downward and the connector ports face toward the back of the case. Slide it into the bay horizontally, pushing gently until it sits flush with the metal cage. The drive should slide smoothly — if it's binding or stuck, stop and check the alignment. Forcing it can damage the connectors.

Once the drive is seated, you'll see screw holes on both the left and right sides of the drive. Use your Phillips screwdriver to install one screw on each side. Tighten them firmly but not so hard that you strip the hole — snug is the right amount of pressure. Two screws are enough; you don't need to fill all four holes.

Now connect the SATA data cable to the port on the back of the drive. The cable has a notch that matches a key on the drive connector, so it only fits one way. Push it in until you hear or feel a click. Then connect the SATA power cable the same way — it's the larger connector with multiple pins.

Connecting Cables to the Motherboard and Power Supply

The other end of the SATA data cable connects to the motherboard. Look for the SATA ports — they're usually labeled SATA0, SATA1, SATA2, and so on, arranged in a row near the bottom of the motherboard. Your main drive is already using one of these ports. Plug the new cable into the next available port. It doesn't matter which one you choose; the computer will recognize the drive either way.

The SATA power cable runs from the power supply. Follow the cables coming from the back of the case toward the power supply unit, usually mounted in the bottom right corner. You'll see a bundle of power connectors. Find one that's not already in use and plug in the SATA power connector from your new drive. Again, the connector has a shape that only fits one way.

Before you close the case, double-check that both the data cable and power cable are fully seated and not loose. A loose connection is the most common reason a new drive doesn't show up in the system.

Closing the Case and Powering On

Slide the side panel back onto the case and reinstall the two screws. Tighten them by hand — you don't need a screwdriver for the final tightening, and over-tightening can crack the plastic. Plug the power cable back into the wall outlet and press the power button to start your computer.

Listen for the new drive to spin up — you'll hear a brief whirring sound as it powers on. If you hear nothing from the drive bay area, or if the computer doesn't start, shut it down immediately and check that both cables are fully connected.

Initializing the New Drive in Windows

Once Windows starts, the new drive may not appear in File Explorer right away. Open Disk Management by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Disk Management" from the menu. You'll see a list of all drives connected to your computer.

If your new drive appears in the list but shows as "Unallocated" or "Unknown", right-click it and select "Initialize Disk". Choose MBR or GPT — for most users, GPT is the better choice for new drives. After initialization, right-click the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume" to create a partition. Follow the wizard, accept the defaults, and assign a drive letter. The drive will then appear in File Explorer and be ready to use.

If the drive doesn't appear in Disk Management at all, shut down the computer, open the case again, and reseat both the data and power cables by unplugging them and plugging them back in firmly. Restart and check Disk Management again.

Troubleshooting a Drive That Doesn't Show Up

If your new drive still doesn't appear after reseating the cables, try a different SATA port on the motherboard. Some ports can fail, and switching to SATA1 or SATA2 instead of SATA3 often solves the problem. Shut down, unplug the data cable from the motherboard, and plug it into a different port, then restart.

If the drive still doesn't show up, the drive itself may be defective. Try the drive in a USB external enclosure if you have access to one — if it works there, the problem is with the internal connection, not the drive. If it doesn't work in an external enclosure either, the drive is likely faulty and should be returned or replaced.

One more thing to check: some M710s models have a BIOS setting that disables certain SATA ports. Restart your computer and press F1 during startup to enter the BIOS setup. Look for a section called "Integrated Peripherals" or "Onboard Devices" and make sure all SATA ports are enabled. Save and exit, then restart Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an SSD instead of a hard drive?

Yes. SSDs are 2.5 inches, so you'll need a 3.5-to-2.5-inch mounting bracket to fit it in the 3.5-inch bay, but these are inexpensive and widely available. The cables and installation process are identical. An SSD will be noticeably faster than a hard drive for the same price.

Do I need to reinstall Windows on the new drive?

No. The new drive is additional storage only. Windows stays on your original drive and boots normally. The new drive appears as a second drive letter in File Explorer, like D: or E:, and you can store files on it immediately after initialization.

What if I don't have a spare SATA power cable inside the case?

You can buy a SATA power cable extension or a splitter cable online for under ten dollars. Alternatively, some power supplies have multiple SATA connectors already attached — follow the cables from the power supply to see if there's an unused one. Never daisy-chain power cables or use adapters from other connector types.

Will adding a second drive slow down my computer?

No. A second drive has no effect on your computer's speed unless you're actively reading from or writing to both drives at the same time, which is rare. Even then, the slowdown is minimal and only affects that specific operation.

Can I move my existing files to the new drive after installation?

Yes. Once the new drive is initialized and appears in File Explorer, you can copy or move files to it like any other folder. Right-click files or folders, select "Cut" or "Copy", navigate to the new drive, and paste. Moving large amounts of data takes time, but the process is straightforward.